Jax Cracker 500 race means fast competition

By Kim McManusCounty Line correspondent,

It was just another day at the races.

Cheering. Loud crashes. High fives. Cameras flashing. Big Hows.

"Big How" is the way members of the YMCA's Indian Guides and Indian Princess program greet one another or extend praise for a job well done. Big Hows, and plenty of them, were shared among more than 230 father-son and father-daughter teams during the annual Jax Cracker 500 derby car race at Skate World on the Southside last weekend.

"The race is one of our hottest events outside of camping," said Tony Hassert, chief of the Timucuan Federation. "It draws a crowd."

As the cars sped down the track, children screamed. Fathers, dressed in the program's uniform of rawhide vests and tye-dyed shirts, high-fived one another as their entries slammed into the finish gate.

Throw in the loud, pulsing music of the Skate World rink and the competition rivaled any Daytona 500 for sheer thrills.

"Getting the weight of the car is very important," said Tom Wright, whose 7-year-old son, Justin, won first place in the Sioux Nation race.

Lyle Beck of Mandarin gives the go-ahead to begin a race during the Jax Cracker 500 derby car race last weekend. Beck was manning the Judge III computer to determine winners.

-- Grant McManus/special

Another father, Tim Taylor, agreed.

"It's a good thing that the post office scales are about the same as they use here," he laughed. He and his 6-year-old son, Jake, made several trips to the Mandarin post office to make certain their entry was just right. Each car must weigh a pound-and-a-half.

The look of the car can be just as important as the speed. Trophies are awarded for best in show. One car was an elaborate replica of a Ford Thunderbird complete with tail fins. A red fire truck was outfitted with flashing lights.

Children must participate in the car's design and creation.

"Fathers sharing their love with their children" is the heart of the Indian Guide and Princess program, according to Hassert.

"This race is just another way to promote closeness between father and son or father and daughter," he said. "It instills the importance of doing things together."

Grace Beck, 10, from Loretto Elementary School, decorated her car in honor of her brother, who recently joined the Marines.

"He's not in basic training yet," she said, "but I made it green with camouflage for him."

Grace's father, Lyle, was one of the judges. He called the 900 heats in the derby a "good break-in" for the federation's new computerized track, the Judge III.

"The gate calculates the winner," he said. "You can imagine the 'squint-itis' we judges suffered from last year after looking at about 800 races."

He and his daughter spent about three weeks working on their car.

"We are crazy about the race," he said. "We both get to do something."

But make no mistake, contestants were there to compete. When asked what she thought the best part of the event was, Grace grinned. "Winning."